Murray State's Cameron Payne participates in the NBA combine in Chicago on May 14.

Murray State's Cameron Payne participates in the NBA combine in Chicago on May 14.

(Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)

Eric Pincus

Lakers work out Murray State guard Cameron Payne ahead of NBA draft on June 25

On Tuesday, the Lakers worked out Murray State point guard Cameron Payne.

The 6-foot-2 sophomore averaged 20.3 points and 6.0 assists a game for the Racers, shooting 44.9% from the field and 37.3% from three-point range.

The Lakers own three picks in the 2015 NBA draft, but it's difficult to see where the Lakers would be willing to select Payne, barring a trade. Taking the 20-year old with the second overall pick would be a reach, and he figures to be long gone when the Lakers select at 27 and 34.

"Honestly I have no idea, my agent did all that," said Payne on why the Lakers brought him in. "He just asked me if I wanted to go. I definitely said yes. That's one of the best franchises ever."

The Lakers typically work out players in a three-on-three setting, but not every agent is willing to showcase their client in a competitive environment with other prospects.

"It was a lot of one-on-one here today, I really didn't get to showcase that today," he said. "I really like passing, getting my teammates happy and involved."

"When I first thought of the NBA, I always thought about the Lakers. They have a winning tradition," he said. "That's what I want to be a part of."

...

On Tuesday, the Lakers worked out freshman Duke center Jahlil Okafor, a strong possibility for the team's second overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft.

"When I first thought of the NBA, I always thought about the Lakers. They have a winning tradition," he said. "That's what I want to be a part of."

... (Eric Pincus)

"I'm really looking forward to June 25," he said at the prospect of getting drafted. "I'm very shocked and speechless about everything."

Payne noted that he's a capable scorer and playmaker but he needs to show improvement on the defensive end.

The Lakers seem likelier to take one of two bigs with their first pick, either Duke's Jahlil Okafor or Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns. Other options might include Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay, who played in China last season.

Some of the team's basketball operations staff, including General Manager Mitch Kupchak, will also travel to Las Vegas over the weekend to look at Latvian power forward/center Kristaps Porzingis.